The Glorious Epiphany with the Devout Christians Love, Title page – Dedication
THE GLORIOUS Epiphany, WITH THE DEVOUT CHRISTIANS LOVE to it.
By SYMON PATRICK, D.D. Chaplain in Ordinary to His Majeſty.
LONDON, Printed by A. M. and R. R. for R. Royſton, Bookſeller to His moſt Sacred Majeſty. MDCLXXVIII.
To the moſt Reverend Father in God WILLIAM by Divine Providence, Lord Arch-biſhop of Canterbury, Primate and Metropolitan of all England, and one of His Majeſties moſt Honourable Privy-Council.
HAving compoſed a Treatiſe, Moſt Reverend Father, concerning the Appearing of the Chief Shepherd of our Souls (whom we look for from Heaven at the laſt day) I know not to whom more properly to addreſs it, than to your Grace: whom our Lord hath been pleaſed to intruſt with the high Office of preſiding in Chief over that part of his Flock which he hath gathered within the Fold of this Kingdom: A charge of which, as your Grace was not in the leaſt ambitious, ſo all judged you highly worthy: and may well look upon it as a token God hath ſtill ſome kindneſs for this Church (which hath been ſo long miſerably diſtracted, and torn in pieces by many ſects and different factions) that He hath been pleaſed to guide His Majeſty to the choice of a Perſon ſo rarely qualified, both with piety and prudence, with uprightneſs and inflexible vertue, as well as with Learning and other accompliſhments, to be the Prime Paſtor of it.
This I am ſure makes ſome Good men hope that He intends ſtill to feed us in our green Paſtures, and to lead us forth beſide the waters of comfort: and hath moved me to take the humble boldneſs (among the crowds who come upon that errand) of appoaching your Grace in this manner; to congratulate to your Grace that ſingular honour, and to the Church that great happineſs.
For the continuance of which, as we ought to pray moſt ardently, ſo to do our duties faithfully in our ſeveral ſtations: and to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, wherewith in this Church, we are fed ſo conſtantly, and ſo abundantly repleniſhed. Unto which as nothing can more effectually excite us, than the ſerious contemplation of his appearing again to give Salvation to all the Faithful; and eſpecially to beſtow upon all Faithful Paſtors (who as St. Peter ſpeaks, feed his Flock willingly, and are examples to it) a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away: So I hope I have done ſomething in this Treatiſe to draw the thoughts and the affections of thoſe who piouſly peruſe it, to ſo lovely a ſpectacle.
Of this your Grace is ſo good a Judge, that it was a Principal motive to my confidence in this Dedication. For next to the pleaſure of compoſing ſuch a work, is the ſatisfaction of addreſſing it to a Patron no leſs Pious than Knowing: who hath accuſtomed himſelf to devout Meditations, and feels in his own breaſt the ſame holy motions, which he ſees and loves in another. This was a Reflection, wherewith that Great man St. Hierom was much delighted, when he was writing his Commentaries upon the Prophet Iſaiah: In whoſe words I may more fitly end this Preface to your Grace, than he begins one of his (upon the ſixteenth Book) unto Euſtochium. It is an excellent ſentence of the moſt eloquent Orator, that Arts would be happy, if none did judge of them but only Artiſts. And leſt I ſhould ſeem to borrow an example only from Prophane Writers, this is the very thing which the Prophet repreſents in other words, Bleſſed is he that ſpeaketh in the ears of them that hearken.
They are the words, I find, of the Son of Sirach, xxv. Eccluſ. 9. whom he calls a Prophet only in a large ſenſe (for in his famous Prologus Galeatus he ſtrikes this Book out of the Canon of the Scripture) becauſe he had an excellent faculty to compriſe in a few words many profitable inſtructions. Amongſt which St. Hierom ſeaſonably called this to mind (as he was writing upon the Scriptures, to one that loved them, and was well verſed in them) which is one of the Ten things there mentioned by that wiſe man, whereby he thought he might be made compleatly happy.
And of this happineſs (to ſpeak ſtill in the words of that Father) your Grace hath made us partakers: having a palate to taſte what is devout, as well as to diſcern what is learned and judicious. To the later I do not pretend; but hope there is ſomething of the former, which will recommend this work to your Graces good liking, and make it acceptable likewiſe to all thoſe that love our Lord Jeſus in ſincerity.
To whoſe powerful Protection and Guidance I moſt humbly commend your Grace; beſeeching Him to ſtrengthen you to ſuſtain the burden of ſo weighty a charge, and to inſpire you with all the Prudence, Reſolution and Zeal, which are neceſſary in theſe difficult times: that by your Graces wiſe conduct, Gods true Religion may be ſo ſetled and firmly eſtabliſhed among us, and ſincere piety, together with Chriſtian-Learning and Knowledge ſo thrive and proſper every-where; that this Church (as St. Paul ſpeaks of that of Theſſalonica) may be your joy and glory, and Crown of rejoycing, before our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, at his coming.
Which is and ſhall be the prayer of,
My Lord, Your Graces moſt humble and dutiful Servant, Symon Patrick.